Media

Kinetra keeps the images, video and audio for a project in the project’s assets/ folder. You use them in templates (photos, logos) and as media layers on a screen (a video clip, a stinger, background music).

What you can import

Kind	Formats	Largest file
Images	PNG, JPG, SVG, GIF, WebP	20 MB
Video	MP4, M4V, WebM, MOV	8 GB
Audio	MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC	8 GB

For video, H.264 in MP4 plays everywhere. See Will it play? for other codecs.

Import media

1. Click Sources in the sidebar (Ctrl+3) and switch Show to Media.
2. Click Import… and pick one or more files.

Large files copy in the background with a progress bar. Click Cancel import to stop. Kinetra copies the files into the project, so the project keeps working if you move or delete the originals.

You can also import from any picker where you choose an image or media file.

File names

Kinetra cleans up file names when it imports: spaces and special characters become -. For example, My Logo (final).PNG becomes My-Logo-final.png. If a file with that name already exists, the new one gets -2, -3 and so on. Nothing is overwritten.

You can’t drag and drop files into Kinetra. Use Import….

The media library

• Search by name, filter by kind under Show, and switch between Grid and List.
• Select a file to see its details: type, duration, resolution, frame rate, codecs, size and Used by (which screens and sources use it).
• Rename a file and Kinetra updates every screen and source that uses it.
• Delete removes the file from the project. If something uses it, Kinetra tells you; those places will be empty.

Use images in a template

Image fields (such as Photo or Logo) have a Choose… button. Pick an image from the project, or click Import images… to add one.

Images must be in the project. A link to an image on the web doesn’t show on air: import it instead.

Add a media layer

1. Open a screen in the screen editor.
2. Click Add layer › Media… and choose a file.

A picture smaller than the screen keeps its size and is centered. Larger pictures and audio fill the screen.

Select the layer to set it up:

• Picture: Fit (whole picture, empty space stays transparent), Fill (fills the box, crops the edges) or Stretch.
• Play range: drag the preview and click Set in and Set out, or type times like 1:23.5. Play the whole file removes the range.
• Sound: Mute and Volume. Previews in the app are always silent.
• Playback: At the end can Hold last frame (the default), Clear (take it off air) or Loop. Turn off Play on take to take the layer to air paused on its first frame.

Play media on air

In Control, a media layer shows its time and buttons to Play, Pause, Stop and Restart. They act on air right away, also in Studio mode.

Before you take a video, Kinetra loads it in every connected output. The layer shows Loading 1/2 until all outputs are ready. If you take it before that, Kinetra asks Take anyway. All outputs start playing at the same moment.

Will it play?

Kinetra checks every video and audio file and tells you where it won’t play: on Windows, on a Mac, in OBS or in vMix. A red icon means Won’t play everywhere; amber means Plays with a caveat. The details panel lists each problem.

Message	What to do
Won’t play on Windows or in OBS: HEVC with alpha.	Convert to WebM VP9 with alpha.
Needs the HEVC Video Extensions on Windows.	Convert to H.264, or install the extension.
Won’t play in OBS: HEVC.	Convert to H.264.
Won’t play on Windows or in browser sources: ProRes.	Convert to H.264, or WebM VP9 if you need alpha.
Shows on black on Mac.	VP8 or VP9 with alpha. On a Mac, convert to HEVC with alpha (.mov).
No sound: AC-3 audio.	Convert to H.264 with AAC audio.
Starts slowly: the index is at the end of the file.	Re-save with fast start.

For most problems, open Convert… in the details panel. It shows an ffmpeg command for that file. Click Copy command, run it with ffmpeg, then import the new file. Kinetra doesn’t include ffmpeg.

Tips

• Use H.264 MP4 for video and PNG or SVG for logos.
• Need transparency in video? Use WebM VP9 with alpha on Windows, OBS and vMix.
• Keep clips short and trimmed. Use Play range rather than importing several versions.
• You can put files straight into the project’s assets/ folder. Kinetra only sees files directly in that folder, with no spaces in the name and a lowercase extension.

Common problems

“… is too large”

Images can be up to 20 MB, video and audio up to 8 GB. Make the file smaller and import it again.

“… is not a PNG file (its content doesn’t match its extension)”

The file isn’t what its name says. Save it again in the right format.

“Can’t load on 1 of 2”

One output couldn’t load the file. Check the playback warnings for that file and convert it if needed.

A layer says the file is missing

The file was deleted or renamed outside Kinetra. Select the layer and Choose… another file.